U.S. patent number 4,178,937 [Application Number 05/829,868] was granted by the patent office on 1979-12-18 for catheter with integral balloon and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Kendall Company. Invention is credited to Bhupendra C. Patel, Glenn N. Taylor.
United States Patent |
4,178,937 |
Taylor , et al. |
December 18, 1979 |
Catheter with integral balloon and method
Abstract
A catheter comprising, an elongated shaft of elastic material
having an annular sleeve overlying a surface of the shaft, with one
end of the sleeve being of one-piece construction with the shaft,
and with a circumferential portion of the sleeve spaced from the
one sleeve end being bonded to the shaft to define a cavity between
the sleeve and the shaft surface. The inflation lumen communicates
with the cavity in order to inflate the balloon.
Inventors: |
Taylor; Glenn N. (Cary, IL),
Patel; Bhupendra C. (Elgin, IL) |
Assignee: |
The Kendall Company (Boston,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
25255774 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/829,868 |
Filed: |
September 1, 1977 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/103;
604/102.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
25/1034 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
25/00 (20060101); A61M 025/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/348-351,246,344,325 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Truluck; Dalton L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sprunger; Powell L.
Claims
We claim:
1. A catheter comprising, an elongated shaft of elastic material
having a main lumen, and an annular sleeve overlying a distal
surface region of said shaft, with one end of said sleeve being of
one-piece construction with the shaft, with said shaft being of
one-piece construction intermediate said distal surface region
including said sleeve and a proximal end portion of the catheter
located outside the patient's body when the catheter is placed in
the body, with a circumferential end portion of said sleeve spaced
from said one sleeve end being bonded to the shaft to define a
cavity between the sleeve and said shaft surface, and with said one
sleeve end being proximal said circumferential end portion of the
sleeve, and means defining an inflation lumen extending along the
shaft and communicating with said cavity to inflate the sleeve.
2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said shaft includes a distal tip
of one-piece construction with the shaft.
3. The catheter of claim 1 including a tip bonded to a distal end
of said shaft.
4. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said shaft is extruded.
5. A catheter comprising, an elongated shaft of elastic material
and substantially uniform wall thickness having a main lumen, an
inflation lumen extending along the shaft, a cylindrical severance
region extending longitudinally along the shaft defining an annular
inner portion of the shaft and an outer annular sleeve of the shaft
overlying said inner portion, with the combined thickness of said
inner portion and sleeve being approximately equal to the thickness
of the remainder of the shaft, said sleeve being of one-piece
construction with the shaft at one end of the sleeve with the other
free end of the sleeve being bonded to the shaft to define a cavity
intermediate the sleeve and said inner shaft portion, and an
opening communicating between said inflation lumen and said
cavity.
6. The catheter of claim 5 including a tip at a distal end of the
catheter defining an opening communicating with said main
lumen.
7. The catheter of claim 5 wherein said one sleeve end is proximal
the other sleeve end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to catheters, and more particularly
to balloon structures for such catheters.
In the past, a various assortment of catheters, such as Foley
catheters and endotracheal tubes, have been proposed for use in
patients. In the case of urinary catheters, a conventional Foley
catheter is normally constructed having a shaft defining a drainage
lumen extending from a drainage eye adjacent a distal end of the
shaft and an inflation lumen in a wall of the shaft, and having an
expansible balloon overlying a distal portion of the shaft and
defining a cavity communicating with the inflation lumen. In use,
the distal end of the catheter is passed through the urethra until
the drainage eye and balloon are located in the patient's bladder,
and the balloon is inflated in the bladder to retain the catheter
in the patient with a proximal end of the catheter located outside
the patient's body. During catheterization, urine passes from the
bladder through the drainage eye and lumen, and from the catheter
through a drainage tube to a bag for collection therein.
A great majority of Foley catheters have been made from latex
rubber through dipping techniques known to the art. However, a
number of problems have been encountered with conventional latex
catheters, such as difficulties in manufacture and delamination of
the catheter sidewalls causing blockage in the inflation lumen.
Accordingly, there has been a desire to construct catheters from
materials which display superior properties of performance. For
example, it is preferred that the catheter shaft be made from a
material which can be extruded in order to facilitate the
manufacturing process and eliminate the delamination problems
associated with dipped latex catheters. In addition, it is
desirable to simplify construction of the balloon while achieving a
satisfactory joinder between the balloon and shaft in order to
reduce the cost of the catheter which is a disposable item.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a
catheter of simplified construction having an improved balloon.
The catheter of the present invention comprises, an elongated shaft
of elastic material having a main lumen, an inflation lumen
extending along the shaft, and an annular sleeve severed from an
inner portion of the shaft. The sleeve is of one-piece construction
with the shaft at one end of the sleeve with the other free end of
the sleeve being bonded to the shaft to define a cavity
intermediate the sleeve and the inner shaft portion. The catheter
has an opening communicating between the inflation lumen and the
cavity.
A feature of the present invention is that the sleeve defines an
inflatable balloon which is part of the catheter shaft, and the
sleeve is firmly joined to the shaft.
Thus, another feature of the invention is that the catheter
eliminates the necessity of forming a separate sleeve and bonding
the separate sleeve to the shaft.
Yet another feature of the invention is that the catheter may be
made at a reduced cost.
Still another feature of the invention is the provision of methods
for forming the catheter.
Further features will become more fully apparent in the following
description of the embodiments of this invention and from the
appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIGS. 1-4 are fragmentary elevational views, taken partly in
section, illustrating steps in formation of a catheter according to
the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a catheter of the
present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of a
catheter of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a catheter generally
designated 10 having an elongated shaft 12 of elastic material,
such as an extruded material of silicone, polyvinyl chloride, or
Kraton, a trademark of Shell Oil Company. Although the principals
of the present invention will be discussed in connection with a
Foley catheter, it will be understood that any suitable catheter
may be constructed in the manner described, such as an endotracheal
tube. As shown, the catheter shaft 12 has a main drainage lumen 14
extending through the shaft, and an inflation lumen 16 extending
along the wall of the shaft. The catheter 10 has a tip 18 at a
distal end 20 of the catheter, and a drainage eye 22 communicating
with the main lumen 14 of the catheter shaft 12. In one form, as
shown, the catheter tip 18 may be of one-piece construction with
the shaft 12, and the tip 18 may be formed by heating the distal
end of the catheter after extrusion of the catheter shaft.
With reference to FIG. 2, an elongated pin or cylinder P is
inserted into the main lumen 14 of the catheter shaft 12 at a
location adjacent the catheter tip 18. As shown, the pin P has a
diameter larger than the diameter of the catheter lumen 14 in order
to expand the catheter shaft. Next, with reference to FIG. 3, an
annular cutting tool T is utilized to sever an annular outer wall
section or sleeve 24 of the shaft 12 from an inner portion 27 of
the shaft while leaving one end 26 of the sleeve 24 joined to the
shaft 12. Thus, the one sleeve end 26 is of one-piece construction
with the shaft 12, and the sleeve 24 overlies a surface 28 of the
inner shaft portion 27. An opening 30 is then formed in the inner
shaft portion 27 which communicates between the inflation lumen 16
and the shaft surface 28. Finally, with reference to FIG. 4, the
other free sleeve end 32 is bonded to the catheter shaft in a
circumferential region by a suitable means 34, such as by adhesive
or heatsealing, and the pin is removed from the catheter lumen
14.
In this manner, an inflatable balloon 35 defined by the sleeve 24
is formed in a simplified manner through use of the catheter shaft
itself. The sleeve 24 defines a cavity 36 intermediate the sleeve
and the shaft surface 28, with the cavity 36 communicating with the
inflation lumen 16 through the opening 30. With reference to FIG.
5, the balloon 35 may be inflated through valve means (not shown)
on a sidearm 38 of the catheter and through the inflation lumen 16
at the time of use.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the inflatable
balloon 35 is formed from the catheter shaft by severing the shaft,
and by bonding a distal end of the severed sleeve to the shaft. In
this manner, the catheter is formed of simplified structure in
order to reduce its cost, and the balloon is securely joined to the
catheter shaft. Although the balloon has been shown as being
severed in a direction proximally along the shaft, it will be
apparent that through use of a suitable pin, the balloon may be
severed in a direction distally along the shaft, such that the free
end of the sleeve is located proximal the integral sleeve end.
In use, the catheter shaft 12 is passed through the urethra of a
patient until the balloon 35 is located in the bladder, and the
balloon is inflated through the inflation lumen 16 in order to
retain the catheter in place. Urine drains through the drainage eye
22 and main lumen 14 to a proximal end 40 of the catheter 10 which
is connected to a drainage tube (not shown) and a drainage bag (not
shown) for collection of the urine.
Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.
6, in which like reference numerals designate like parts. In this
embodiment, the catheter 10 has a separate tip 18 having a tongue
42 received in the shaft lumen 14, with the tip 18 being bonded to
a distal end of the shaft. The sleeve 24 is severed from the distal
end of the catheter shaft prior to attachment of the tip, and the
free sleeve end 32 is bonded to the catheter shaft to define an
inflatable balloon 35, in a manner as previously described.
The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of
understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be
understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those
skilled in the art.
* * * * *